Polycycle.



BATENTED AUG. e, 1907. J. MLLER. POLYGYGLB.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 27, 1907.

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No. 862,650. PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

J. MLLER.

POLYGYCLE.

APPLIUATION FILED MR2?, 1907.

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vformed in the plates 1, 1. ed respectively by links 11 to the undersides of the JOHN MLLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

POLYCYCLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907'.

Application filed March 27,1907. Serial No. 364,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN MLLER, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, and a resident of the city of New York, borough ofManhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new andImproved Polycycle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to polycycles, and the object of the invention isto produce a skate which is adapted to be operated by a movement of onesfoot.

A further object is to provide a construction which is simple and notlikely to get out of order, and which will enable the polycycle to besteered.`

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly sot forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a polycycle constructed according tomy invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a cross sectiontaken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking forwardly; and Fig. 4 is across section taken near one of the. rollers and illustrating details ofthe driving mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1, 1 represent a pair ofoppositely disposed foot plates. To the under sides of these plates atthe forward ends thereof brackets 2 are attached, and in these bracketsa rotatable forward axle 3 is mounted. At the rear of the plates l, 1and to the under sides thereof, similar brackets 4 are attached, and inthese brackets there is rotatably mounted a rear axle 5. On the uppersides of the plates 1, 1 lever plates 6 are pivotally mounted at thepoints 7 just forward of the middle of the plates, as indicated mostclearly in Fig. 2. To the under sides of the plates 1, 1, and preferablyjust to the rear of the points 7, a transverse shaft 8 is rotatablymounted, and this shaft is provided near its end with cranks 9 which mayextend upwardly through openings 10 These cranks 9 are connectleverplates 6.

At a suitable point on the shaft 8, preferably midway between the plates1, 1, I provide a main sprocket wheel 12, and opposite this sprocketwheel on the forward axle 3, I provide a small sprocket wheel 13, thesaid sprocket wheels being connected by a sprocket chain 14 of commonconstruction.

The axle 5 is provided near its ends and beneath the plates 1, 1 withrollers 15 which Will have rubber tires 1G to absorb the shock ofpassing over unevenness in the floor, and to enable the roller to have abetter bearing.

The brackets 4 are disposed in pairs at each of the plates 1, 1, andbetween the brackets and the rollers 15, helical springs 17 are providedaround the axle, which thrust at their inner ends against the sides ofthe rollers and tend to hold the same in mid position between thebrackets, as shown in Fig. 1. Similar rollers 18 are provided at theforward ends of the plates 1, 1, and these rollers are held betweensprings 19 and 20 similar to the springs 17. The springs 20, however, donot thrust against the outer members of the brackets 2, but thrustagainst driving pawls 21. There is one of these driving pawls inconnection with each of the forward rollers 18. The construction andarrangement at this point is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Each of the pawls21 is mounted pivotally at 22 upon a pin 23 which is xed transversely inthe axle 3. Each pawl 21 is provided with a tail 24 which normally liesagainst the side of the axle. Each pawl is further formed with anoutwardly projecting toe 25, and this toe is adapted to engage with apin 26 which projects laterally from the side face of the correspondingroller as indicated very clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. The toe 25 projectsin the direction in which the rotation of the axle takes place when thepolycycle is moving forwardly, from which arrangement it follows that ifthe rotation of the axle should be suddenly arrested, the roller maycontinue to rotate. When the pin 26 arrives at the position 26a, inwhich it is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. L1, it simply strikes thetoe of the pawl and deflects it inwardly toward the axle. At this time,it should be understood that the pawl simply rotates on the pivot point22 thereof. From this construction it should be understood that theforward axle may operate to rotate the forward rollers, but the rollersmay advance at a greater rate of speed than the axle, in turning curvesor the like. Hence, the connection between the forward axles and theforward rollers may be considered to constitute a one-way clutch.

At the forward ends of the plates 1, 1, downwardly projecting hangers27'are provided, and these hangers support pivotally steering plates 2S,which extend upwardly normally in an inclined position, as indicated inFig. 2, being held in this condition by helical springs 29 attachedrespectively to the plates 1, 1 and to the plates 28, as shown. To theunder sides of the steering plates 28 steering arms 30 are pivotallyattached respectively at 31, and these arms hang downwardly as shown,and are provided at their lower ends with steering rollers 32respectively. When the right steering wheel is depressed against thefloor, the device is steered in one direction, and when the left wheelis depressed to the oor, the device will be steered in the otherdirection.

In the operation of the polycycle it should be understood that theperson stands upon the plates l, 1 with his heels resting against thelever plates 6, the cranks 9 being set at 180 With respect to eachother, thus affording means for rotating the shaft 8 by alternatelypressing the plates 6 downwardly with the heel. In this Way the forwardaxle 3 is rotated in a forward direction, and through the operation ofthe pawls 21, the rollers 18 are continuously driven in a forwarddirection. The toes of the skaters shoes lie adjacent to the steeringplates 28 so that either of the plates 28 may be depressed at Will so asto bring the roller 32 carried thereby, in contact with the ground, 1nthis Way the polycycle may be steered as desired.

The plates 1, 1 connected by the axles and the shaft and othercontiguous parts, may be considered to constitute a frame supporting therunning gear.

It is unnecessary to provide special fastening devices for holding thefoot upon the skate, and such devices would be undesirable as tending toincrease the liability to injury in case the skater should fall. After alittle practice, the skater can very readily stand upon the skate andoperate it in the manner set forth above.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a polycycle of the class described, in combinationy a i'ramemounted upon rollers, a depressible steering plate attached forwardly tosaid frame, means for normally holding said plate in an elevatedposition whereby it may be depressed by the toe of ones shoe, and asteering roller supported from said steering plate and normally lyingnear the floor.

2. In a polycycle of the class described, in combination, a framecomprising a pair of oppositely disposed plates, axles connecting thesame and carrying rollers supporting said frame, depressible steeringplates attached to the forward ends ot' said first plates, steeringWheels carried by said steering plates, and' springs normally holdingsaid steering plates in an elevated position to maintain said steeringwheels out of engagement with the H001'.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speeiiieation in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN MLLER.

Witnesses l D. AMMnN, Evmmno B. MARSHALL.

